Locking-latch.



H. A. PALMER.

LOOKING LATCH.

lAPPLICATION FILED 00T.1 B,'1913.

1,086,208. Patented Feb.l3, 1914.

' ATTORNEY coLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH Co..wASH|NaToN, D. c.

HARRY A.. PALMER, 0F MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO FOSTER, MERRIAM AND COMPANY, 0F MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LOCKING-LATCH.

T0 all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. PALMER, a citizen of t-he United States, residing at Meriden, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Locking-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a locking latch adapted for general use and especially adapted for use on refrigerator doors and the like, which shall be strong and durable, and efficient and reliable in operation and in which the number of parts and the cost of construction shalll be reduced to the minimum.

With these and other objects in view I have devised the novel locking latch which I will now describe, in which 'a sliding spring performs the additional function of a locking bolt.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective with the cover plate removed, the combined spring and bolt being in the locking position; Fig. 2 a similar view, with the combined spring and bolt in its normal or retracted position, leaving the latch operative; Fig. 3 a section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 a perspective of the combined spring and bolt detached, and Fig. 5 is a reverse view of the latch detached.

The present structure comprises essentially a case, a lifting latch, an operating lever and a combined spring and bolt.

10 denotes the case which is provided with flanges having holes for attaching screws and 11 a cover plate which rests on post-s in the case.

13 denotes the latch which is pivoted on a stud 14 projecting from the case and is provided with a tail piece 15 and an upwardly projecting arm 16 which lies within the case and covers the slot 17 through which the operative end of the latch projects. The latch is operated by means of a lever 18 pivoted outside the case and having an operating arm 19 which projects through a slot 2O in the case and engages the tail piece of the latch.

21 denotes the slidable combined spring and bolt which is substantially U-shaped and comprises an upper arm 22 having a beveled locking project-ion 23, formed in the present instance by making a V-shaped bend in the Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led October 18,' 1913.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914i.

Serial No. 795,921.

arm, and a lower arm 24 which is shown as slightly longer than arm 22 and has imparted to it ay downward bend to adapt it to bear upon the latch. The combined spring and bolt is retained in place by a rounded stud 25, lying between the arms and over which the memberslides freely. 'Locking projection 23 on the upper arm of member 21 is adapted to engage either side of a stud 26, as clearly shown in Figs. .1 and 2. J ust within arm 16 of the latch and slightly above the body of the latch is a stud 27 which is received in a slot 28 in the latch when the latter is raised. Y

29 denotes a key hole in the case and 30 a key hub which is adapted to oscillate in the case and cover plate, the ends of said hub being Vmounted in the usual manner in holes in the case and cover plate. A bit of the key (not shown) is adapted to engage a recess 31 in the combined spring and bolt to move said member into and out of operative position. 1 VThe operation is as follows: /Vhen the combined spring and bolt is in its retracted position, as in Fig. 2, arm 24; simply serves as a spring to retain the latch in place. The operat-ive end of the latch is shown as beveled to engage a keeper (not sho-wn) and be raised in the usual manner against the power of the spring, or the latch may b-e raised aga-inst the power of the spring by operation of the lever. Toy lock the latch the key is inserted in the hub and the hub rotated thereby toward the left. A bit of the key will engage recess 31 in the combined spring and bolt and will force said member toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 2, the beveled locking projection riding Linder stud 26 and then rising through the resiliency of the arm on the opposite side of the lug, as in Fig. 1, and retaining the member in that position until it is again operated by the key. rIhe locking is effected by passing the end of arm 24 of the combined spring and bolt under lug 27, said arm covering slot 28 in the latch and lying between the latch and the stud, thus making it impossible to raise the latch. Unlocking of the latch is effected by a reverse movement of the key hub, which must of course be re turned to its normal position before the key can be removed. In unlocking, the hub is rotated toward the right, a bit of the key engages recess 31 in the combined spring and bolt, and moves said member toward the left from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in F ig. 2, leaving the latch free to be operated by the lever or by slamming the door to which the case is attached to the closed position.

Having thus described my invention I claim l. A device of the character described comprising a case, a stud projecting therefrom, a latch pivoted Within the case and a slidable spring having an arm which bears against the latch and is adapted to be passed between the stud and the latch to lock the latch.

2. A device of the character described comprising a case having a projecting stud, a lifting latch having a slot which receives the stud when the latch is raised and a slidable combined spring and bolt which bears against the latch and is adapted to be passed between the stud and the latch to lock the latch.

3. A device of the character described comprising a case, a stud projecting therefrom, a liiting latch and a slidable combined spring and bolt having a recess for engagement by a key,v said slidable member bearing upon the latch and being adapted to be passed between the stud and the latch to lock the latch.

4. A device of the character described comprising a case, studs projecting therefrom, a pivoted latch and a slidable spring` having an arm provided with a locking projection adapted to engage one of the studs to retain said spring in either the lockino or unlocking position and an arm adapted to be passed between the latch and the other stud to lock the latch.

5. A device of the character described comprisinfr a case, studs projecting there from, a litting latch and a U-shaped slidable combined spring and bolt, one arm of said slidable member having a locking projection adapted to engage one of the studs, for the purpose set forth, and the other arm being adapted to be passed between the latch and the other stud to lock the latch.

6. A device of the character described comprising a case, studs projecting therefrom, a lifting latch and a U-shaped slidable combined spring and bolt, one of said studs lying between the arms of said slidable member, one arm of said member having a loclring projection adapted to engage a second stud, for the purpose set forth, and the other arm being adapted to be passed between the latch and a third stud to loch the latch.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a case having a slot, studs projecting from the case, a lifting latch having an arm within the case which closes the slot, and a slidable combined spring and bolt comprising arms one of which is provided with a locking projection adapted to engage one of the studs, for the purpose set forth, the other arm being adapted to be passed between the latch and another stud to lock the latch.

In testimony whereof I atix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY A. PALMER.

Vitnesses:

FRANK L.- RowNTREn, BLAINE CoGeiNs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

